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5 August 2014

'No Time For More Notes' - A Diary of the Great War

On
4th August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany. The following day, my
great-grandfather, Farrier Sergeant James Joseph Creighton was mobilized to
active service. He left Cork docks with his "destination unknown." He
travelled via England on a long and arduous journey to the Western Front in
France near the border with Belgium. From August 5th to October 22nd, his 28th
birthday, he kept "notes." These neat but spare pencil jottings
describe his journey from Cork to France, writing the bare essentials of what
he saw and experienced during the opening months of the First World War.

The
reason the diary ends rather abruptly, according to my grandmother, is because
he was told to stop writing by one of his commanding officers for fear it might
fall into enemy hands and cause harm. Although his notes are short, they create
a concise and perceptive record using a language which is very clear. The diary
(measuring 90mm x 60mm x 4mm) is very fragile, and, in part because of this, a few years ago I
decided to transcribe it; I then made up copies of the transcription, complete
with photographs of each page, so that the diary could be shared by
everyone in our family.

James
Joseph Creighton survived the Great War. He had served in the Army since the
age of 18, and once the War was over he was stationed in India between
1919 and 1923. When he eventually left the Army he continued to work as a
farrier and had an expert knowledge with regard to horses. He wrote another
larger and more detailed notebook, illustrated with sketches and diagrams,
detailing how to nurse and care for injured or unhealthy horses. We also have a cine film reel of him shoeing a horse in his forge.

In
1968 one of his daughters described him in a long poem which was probably
written to celebrate his 82nd birthday:

Our Josey was tall dark and handsome

Blue eyes and with dark curly hairA brogue you could cut with a knife edgeHis back like a ram-rod, I swear

At eighteen he entered the ArmyHe wanted to travel the worldHe landed in India and EgyptWherever our flag was unfurled

For Josey all life was the ArmyHe stayed there for twenty-one yearsLife was good, he was happy, no worriesTo troubles he just closed his ears

Although
I was still only very young at the time I have very vivid memories of my
great-grandfather. He was a very kind and gentle man with large warm hands and
a large white Edwardian moustache. Born in 1886, an Irishman from Banbridge in
County Down, he died in 1984 when I was 8 years old.

14th
Sept. off again, done 30 kilometres. Guns booming in the distance.
Did not bother about the names of these places. Bivouacked again for the night
at Paars, near the River Aisne.

15th
Sept. got into a bit of a billet, resting ready for the
final Battle of the Aisne. Wounded going down from the fighting line in dozens
to the hospitals. Gunners entrenching & making gun pits. One Gunner killed
& Lieutenant Eyse 112th Battery wounded, Gunners name Rutherford, by a
German Coal box / shed nicknamed by the troops.

29th
Sept. Germans retiring to Belgium. British forces to move
[…]nto left wing from left centre. March by night, keep under cover by day.
Entrained at small station South of the River Ouse. Passed through Crepy St
Dennis. St Just Amiens Abbeville. Stopped one day [...] night in Saint Ormans.
Marched about four miles. Guns booming. Came into action 1.30pm.

13th
October. Fired 172 rpounds. Guns remain in action all night.
Been raining hard all day, wet through. Village on fire in the distance. Enemy
retiring at day break. Ordered to advance passed two houses on fire in village
by German shell, also grave of Private Piper L.N.S. killed in action last
night. Billeted for the night.

14th
Oct. still advancing, marching all day. Darkness coming
over, getting very cold. Germans start pelting again. Wind up. Getting fired at
from an un[...]ed Position. Expecting an attack halted on roadside, no talking.
Gunners get round first line with rifles " guns come into action on
roadside, but all passed off quietly. Battery moved off. No one knew of any
orders being passed down. Capt. G M S., S S Cpl, all went off with firing
Battery. Left with 1st line to find them in the darkness, got stuck in road expecting
to meet some [?villains] who are known to be prowling about in the woods about
there. But would sell life dearly. Arrived at Billet safely about 1am

15th
Oct. Lay down tired out. Germans took two boys belonging
to people of billet. Used them to dig their trenches. Women weeping everywhere.
Church on fire. Moved off about 10am, passed German dead Trooper, shot through
the head. 11 others buried on roadside. They were a German Cavalry patrol
caught by a patrol of the Royal Fusiliers. One in cottage dieing. More dead
horses. Their horses well shod for frosty weather. But it would take them
longer to put [...] the screws than it would for to rough our horses. Entered
the town of Stumurecl[?], just on Belgian frontier. Town turned upside down.
Off again 7pm. Keeping them on the go. Very cold. After an hours march we halt
on roadside. Two hay stacks on fire. They think we are going to walk between them
& show ourselves up. But no. We remain in the darkness all night. Myself, G
M.S & Davy huddle behind a hay stack, try to have a nap but cannot for the
cold. Two bridges taken by Liensters during the night. Only 1 killed 9[?]
wounded. Camped again for a few hours sleep.

16th
Oct. off again. Once more arrived at some town also
turned upside down. Women again weeping in doorways. Most of them crying with
joy at seeing our troops. They know they are safe when we enter a town or
village. 7 Germans just brought in. One spy shot.

Oct 18th arrive at Chappe Le Armantiers. Came into
action on left of church. Shells flying on. One hit. Three shells burst between
110th wagon line. Very narrow escape for horses & Drivers. G.M.S. &
myself watch them going into the church in dozens. Then the fire is directed
into dwelling houses. Smashed to bits. Germans start sweeping. Cannot shift find our guns but find our wagon but may have to shift it.

Oct
19th firing continues all night. Sure to be heavy
casualties. Mr Leach wounded but performed a gallant act. 1pm shells bursting
all around us. Just slightly windy. 6pm wind up. Enemy supposed to be
advancing. Harness up. Be ready to move off at a moments notice. Every one in
suspense. We do not like retirements. 9pm all quiet. Gen sends down. This position
to be held at all costs. 11pm. Enemy drove back. Awful slaughters to the
Germans & Prisoners taken. All quiet 6am.

Oct
20th more shells. 1 Cpl 43 Battery killed. The roar of
guns is awful. You can hear it roaring off for miles. Heavy firing all day. No
casualties. Our guns are well concealed.

Oct
21st. guns at it again. As G.M.S & myself were having
dinner of boiled peas & Bully one came whizzing over our heads. We lay flat
on the ground. Then we set to dig ourselves in.

22nd
Oct. My birthday. What a night we had last night. The
heavens were alight with Rifle & Artillery fire. The Germans attacked us.
Three army Corps to the 6[?]th Div. Never will I forget it. They attacked us at
about 11pm. But our orders were to hold that position at all costs. The Germans
are lying in hundreds dead. R.B. killed 80, captured 100. Our casualties
amounted to 6 wounded. This morning they did not repeat this attack, but keep
shelling us. They have had enough of British doggedness. The spire of this
church on my right is just about to topple over.* As I write the ground is
shaking with the bursting of their heavy shells, but doing no damage to our
troops. Absolute waste of ammunition. We drove them back after one hours
terrific fighting. Lord but it was awful lay down beside brimber[?] Teeth
chattering in my head. No time for more notes.

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* For more information regarding this battle, see the opening pages of the Michelin Illustrated Guides to the Battlefields (1914-1918): Ypres and the Battle of Ypres (Michelin, 1919)here & scroll down to p. 49 onwards for photographs of the Church of St. Waast, Armentieres before & after the fighting (possibly the church he describes?).

Me (aged 4) with my Great-Grandfather (aged 94)

Photo credit for 'The City of Benares' by Gordy, the late Don Ross Collection at ShipSpotting.com